1. The Scorpio Races written by Maggie Stiefvater Scholastic Press 2011 Lillie Busch Pre-IB 9 2A

2. “Some riders live. Others die.”  The setting is the fictional island of Thisby.  Each November, capaill uisce {singular is capall usice } – or water horses – come from the sea and are captured.  Men train them for two weeks before the Scorpio Races begin.  The races are dangerous, because the sea calls to the carnivorous mounts during November more than any other time in the year, thus making them more uncontrollable than ever.  The book’s plot starts moving along when the protagonist is faced with her brother’s choice to leave.

3. Kate “Puck” Connolly  Mount: Dove, regular mare  Puck is the middle Connolly sibling, and cares for her brothers.  She is also either really stupid or really brave to be the first female to take part in the Scorpio Races – on a regular horse no less.

4. Sean Kendrick  Mount: Corr, capall usice stallion  Puck’s protagonist counterpart.  He has a job at Malvern stables, and is basically a capall usice ’s version of a horse whisperer.  Also the four-time winner of the Scorpio Races on Corr.  Stubborness is a quality both he and Puck share.

5. Matthew “Mutt” Malvern  Mount: Skata, mare capall usice  The antagonist of the story, Mutt is son to Mr. Malvern and Sean’s envious rival.  He is usually not the sharpest person around.

6. “It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.” –Sean Kendrick  Puck is perfectly content riding Dove and merely living on Thisby, until her older brother announces that he is leaving for the mainland.  In a desperate ploy to make him stay, Puck says that she is going to ride in the Scorpio Races.  She is quickly faced with prejudiced men who’d do almost anything to keep her out of the races, but she slowly finds an ally in quiet and loner Sean.  She can either win, and have Gabe and the prize money, or lose and give Sean a chance to get what he had always wanted. Dying is a possibility, too; her chances of casualties are higher than normal.

7. Mr. Malvern  Mount: none  He’s Thisby’s richest man as well as the owner of Malvern Stables.  Plays the parts of Sean’s boss, Mutt’s father, and Corr’s official owner.  Mr. Malvern’s not exactly cruel, but not completely nice, either. He can stand his ground.

8. Peg Gratton  Mount: none  Wife to the Skarmouth butcher.  She’s considered beautiful and is adored by every man on the island because she could “cut [his] heart out neat.”  Is skeptical – and does not approve - of Puck’s choice to enter the Races, but does eventually assist her.

9. George Holly  Mount: none  He’s a pleasant and prosperous American who comes to Thisby at the time prior to the Races.  Befriends Sean and Finn – which is an accomplishment in itself.

10. Connolly brothers Gabriel “Gabe” Connolly  Mount: none  Gabe yearns to leave Thisby for the mainland.  He holds the title of the oldest living Connolly.  He also works odd jobs to earn money for the family - mainly at the docks. Finn Connolly  Mount: none, unless the Morris car counts  Youngest Connolly.  Loves tinkering with things.  Doesn’t like being thanked/complimented/revea ling happiness.

11. Finn Connolly Gabe Connolly

12. What the Critics Say  “An utterly compelling read.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review “An utterly compelling read.”  "[A] thrilling book that’s as unusual as it is alluring." — The Los Angeles Times "[A] thrilling book that’s as unusual as it is alluring."

13. What I Say. {slight – obvious - spoilers} Before I Read It:  Skeptical, for I did not enjoy the author’s earlier works.  Admittedly hoped that Puck and Sean wouldn’t end up together, and would just be friends.  Thought that the races would be more prominent. After I Read It:  Definitely better than the Shiver trilogy (previous books written by Stiefvater).  The descriptions were amazing.  The romance was all right; if you’re expecting make-out sessions at every page, you are wrong.  Took a while to get into.

14. Not on my READ OR FOREVER BE NOT ENLIGHTENED LIST, but if you’re looking for a light read, it’ll work.